KALAMAZOO -- Quasi-local media, unknown Western Michigan University fans, a random squirrel crossing the goal line -- they're all subject to questioning and random search this week at Bronco football practices.

At WMU, preparation for Central Michigan comes with paranoia (especially when Brian Kelly was roaming the sidelines at CMU), and it's reportedly not much different in Mount Pleasant.

This week, with both teams unbeaten in Mid-American Conference play, all parties involved are likely to be as delusional as ever.

"It seems every time you play a big rivalry game, everybody's a bit more careful about things," Broncos coach Bill Cubit said Sunday, his mood light in the wake of a 34-28 overtime victory Saturday at Buffalo. "The kids play around with it a little bit. We (the coaches) play around with it.

"If someone's up in the stands, and it could be one of our fans, we'll say, 'They're watching us,'" Cubit continued, talking about potential CMU spies. "'You better do this right.' ... It keeps practice light."

Last year, a cameraman at WXMI Fox 17 caught Cubit's eye. The year before that, TV reporters -- many of whom also serve part of the Chippewas' fan base -- were asked not to film any of practice.

"With Bill, and it was the same way with Gary (Darnell), all the practices are open, it's a big lovefest," said WMU director of operations Tim Knox, who's been with the program in some capacity since 1997. "Then this week, all of a sudden it's, 'Who's that guy?'

"We'll question anybody if we don't know them."

By the end of this week, who knows, birds may be plucked from the sky for interrogation by menacing strength and conditioning coach Nate Peoples.

"It's a fun time. A lot of excitement in the air. ... Just having a good time," Cubit said of the theatrics the paranoia brings on, "which is what having a great rivalry game is."